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From: murray@vs2.scri.fsu.edu (John Murray)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: Polhemous tracking devices
Message-ID: <8073@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 24 Sep 90 03:16:46 GMT
References: <7467@milton.u.washington.edu> <1990Sep21.143120.21614@maths.tcd.ie>
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In article <1990Sep21.143120.21614@maths.tcd.ie> jorice@maths.tcd.ie (Jonathan R
ice) writes:
>
>In <7467@milton.u.washington.edu> zik@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU (Michael Saleeba) w
r
>ites:
>
>I don't have any price for the Polhemus, but I don't think you're talking
>cheap here. I do have some info on a full plug-in-and-go RS-232 position and
>orientation device from Ascension Technology Corp. of Vermont that uses a
>*DC* field. This apparently gives better immunity to eddy currents in metallic
>objects in the sensor's vicinity. Anyway, that device costs $5000. Not cheap.
>
>The beef:
>        The Bird (TM) 6D graphics input device
>        [..address + phone deleted..]

I was told at SIGGRAPH that The Bird also uses a Polhemus sensor.  On the
other hand, the blurb I've got in front of me touts it as "the only 6D
input system that works...near metal and other obstructions," so you may
be right about the DC. (maybe Polhemus makes both, now?) Also, the $5000
price tag is the single-unit price. 2-4 units saves 20%, 75-99 saves
55%, >99 "consult Ascension."


>There's also this similar device called the Flying Mouse (TM):
>        Flying Mouse (TM)
>        SimGraphics Engineering Corp.
>        [..address + phone deleted..]
>I don't have a price for that. It uses a Polhemus sensor.

The price I was given at SIGGRAPH was $4K, no specific mention of volume
discounts. The Flying Mouse was being demoed in the Polhemus booth.

In my (humble) opinion, one big difference between these two devices is
ergonomic. Both are standard mouses on the ground, and 6D mouses in the
air. (I'm pretty sure) both have RS-232 interfaces. The Flying Mouse is a
largish thing, about like a DECStation mouse with wings that fit nicely under
the thumb and pinky, while The Bird is a tiny thing that made my hand cramp
just looking at it.

Notice how everything using the Polhemus sensor has a pretty hefty price
tag on it? My guess is that nobody gets the sensors for less than $1K or so.
I'd like to know the single-unit price on it if anyone happens to know.

SimGraphics had an engineering proto of a Flying Mouse with a hacked-up
tactile sensing. Next year, maybe. Interesting, interesting...

>-- Jonathan
>
>Jonathan Rice, jorice@cs.tcd.ie
>
>Disclaimer: I've no connection with Ascension or SimGraphics. I've a slender
>enough connection with anything in the real world, come to think of it.

John R. Murray          | "They call me Mr. Know-it-all, I am so eloquent.
murray@vs2.scri.fsu.edu |  Perfection is my middle name!
                        |   ...and whatever rhymes with 'eloquent'." - Primus